Teens join D.C. March for Life

Members of the Respect Life Club at Cardinal Mooney High School journeyed to Washing D.C. for the recent March for Life. Pictured from left: Connor Cerrito, junior; Meghan Donaghy, junior; Tim Shipe, teacher; Maguire LaFave, sophomore; Jillian O'Callaghan, junior and Katie Atwell, Theology teacher and Respect Life faculty sponsor.

PHOTO BY JENNIFER SHEA

By JENNIFER SHEACorrespondent

Published: Thursday, February 21, 2013 at 10:41 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, February 21, 2013 at 10:41 a.m.

Maguire LaFave recently journeyed to Washington D.C. for the 40th anniversary of the March for Life. Maguire, 15, made the trip with friends in the Respect Life Club at Cardinal Mooney High School.

"I really didn't know much about it — or about Roe v. Wade," the diminutive teen said. "I think that it gave me a much different perspective on pregnant teens."

She said that before the march, if she saw a teen with child, she assumed that the young lady "got around."

"Now I have so much respect for her decision to carry her child," Mauire added.

According to Jillian O'Callaghan, 17, information breeds tolerance.

Jillian is the president of the CMH Respect Life Club; she said that she was "happy to see so many kids.

"I thought it would be all grown-ups, but I would say that most of the marchers were kids," she added.

Jillian learned a lot about the issue — and herself.

"I would change the law if I could but I really think that the only thing that will change people's hearts is education," she said with a shrug.

Cardinal Mooney Respect Life Club teens, 16 in all, braved freezing weather in the Nation's Capitol to march alongside 500,000 to 650,000 pro-life advocates.

Connor Cerrito, 16, was one of four young men to make the trip.

He said that after attending the march, he wants to be "very involved, because I understand more."

"My parents raised me right," he said, so he cannot foresee a time when he would be open to premarital sex, but he has compassion for teens who find themselves faced with tough choices.

"It is not an easy choice, but sometimes the right thing is not the easy thing to do," Connor added.

More than 120 people from the Diocese of Venice — mostly youths — made the trip for the March for Life. The group, led by Most Rev. Frank Dewane, Bishop of the DOV, participated in the National Prayer Vigil, Youth Rally and a U.S. Bishop's Mass at the Verizon Center.

Meghan Donaghy, 17, also attended the march.

"I was, like, totally not sure if I was pro-life or pro-choice before I went," Meghan said.

Now, she said, she is firmly pro-life. "I learned a lot and I was inspired to go more in-depth.

"I believe that every person should have the chance to live."

Meghan, like Jill, believes that love and education are the keys. "I think that girls just don't know how many options that they have," Meghan said.

Katie Atwell, theology teacher and Respect Life coordinator, and teacher Tim Shipe accompanied the students to Washington.

Teens in the club, Atwell said, raise awareness for pro-life choices and fundraise for My Choice Pregnancy Center and other agencies.

Connor said that the club sold candy bars and teamed with the Knights of Columbus to "raise money for an ultrasound machine."

Many pregnant teens, Jillian said, are alone and ostracized.

"I would say to them, 'There is help for you, there are pregnancy centers that will help with adoption information and if your parents are not supportive — I will be your friend.'"

"I don't want to preach at people," Connor said.

"But you have to realize that your baby is alive from the beginning — the very beginning.

"When you get pregnant, you are not expecting a baby — you have a baby."

The trip, Meghan said, created "a lot of take-away.

"I'm sure that the subject will come up for discussion and now I'm ready to be part of those discussions."

<p>Maguire LaFave recently journeyed to Washington D.C. for the 40th anniversary of the March for Life. Maguire, 15, made the trip with friends in the Respect Life Club at Cardinal Mooney High School.</p><p>"I really didn't know much about it — or about Roe v. Wade," the diminutive teen said. "I think that it gave me a much different perspective on pregnant teens."</p><p>She said that before the march, if she saw a teen with child, she assumed that the young lady "got around."</p><p>"Now I have so much respect for her decision to carry her child," Mauire added.</p><p>According to Jillian O'Callaghan, 17, information breeds tolerance. </p><p>Jillian is the president of the CMH Respect Life Club; she said that she was "happy to see so many kids.</p><p>"I thought it would be all grown-ups, but I would say that most of the marchers were kids," she added.</p><p>Jillian learned a lot about the issue — and herself.</p><p>"I would change the law if I could but I really think that the only thing that will change people's hearts is education," she said with a shrug.</p><p>Cardinal Mooney Respect Life Club teens, 16 in all, braved freezing weather in the Nation's Capitol to march alongside 500,000 to 650,000 pro-life advocates.</p><p>Connor Cerrito, 16, was one of four young men to make the trip. </p><p>He said that after attending the march, he wants to be "very involved, because I understand more."</p><p>"My parents raised me right," he said, so he cannot foresee a time when he would be open to premarital sex, but he has compassion for teens who find themselves faced with tough choices.</p><p>"It is not an easy choice, but sometimes the right thing is not the easy thing to do," Connor added.</p><p>More than 120 people from the Diocese of Venice — mostly youths — made the trip for the March for Life. The group, led by Most Rev. Frank Dewane, Bishop of the DOV, participated in the National Prayer Vigil, Youth Rally and a U.S. Bishop's Mass at the Verizon Center.</p><p>Meghan Donaghy, 17, also attended the march.</p><p>"I was, like, totally not sure if I was pro-life or pro-choice before I went," Meghan said.</p><p>Now, she said, she is firmly pro-life. "I learned a lot and I was inspired to go more in-depth.</p><p>"I believe that every person should have the chance to live."</p><p>Meghan, like Jill, believes that love and education are the keys. "I think that girls just don't know how many options that they have," Meghan said.</p><p>Katie Atwell, theology teacher and Respect Life coordinator, and teacher Tim Shipe accompanied the students to Washington.</p><p>Teens in the club, Atwell said, raise awareness for pro-life choices and fundraise for My Choice Pregnancy Center and other agencies. </p><p>Connor said that the club sold candy bars and teamed with the Knights of Columbus to "raise money for an ultrasound machine."</p><p>Many pregnant teens, Jillian said, are alone and ostracized.</p><p>"I would say to them, 'There is help for you, there are pregnancy centers that will help with adoption information and if your parents are not supportive — I will be your friend.'"</p><p>"I don't want to preach at people," Connor said. </p><p>"But you have to realize that your baby is alive from the beginning — the very beginning.</p><p>"When you get pregnant, you are not expecting a baby — you have a baby."</p><p>The trip, Meghan said, created "a lot of take-away.</p><p>"I'm sure that the subject will come up for discussion and now I'm ready to be part of those discussions."</p>